KLADNO, Czechia — In Kladno, Czechia, 30 kilometers northwest of Prague, sits a 5,200-seat hockey enviornment in a clearing within the woods. That is the city and the rink that made Jaromir Jagr. Earlier than he piled up 1,921 factors in 1,733 NHL video games and gained 5 Artwork Ross trophies and two Stanley Cups, Jagr was the subsequent large factor on this Czech city. And now at 52 years previous, 36 years after he first performed a recreation for Kladno, the NHL legend is the one holding this group alive.
On a Tuesday evening in early October, Rytiri Kladno, the Czech Extraliga group that Jagr performed for as a youngster and now owns, is internet hosting Ocelari Trinec, the defending Extraliga champions and one of many wealthiest groups within the league. Kladno, by comparability, has been battling to remain within the high Czech league. They’ve wanted to win the relegation sequence to remain within the high league for 3 straight years. If not for Jagr and his capacity to attract a crowd and sponsor funds, Kladno might not be right here. Oh, and the do-everything proprietor can also be nonetheless plugging away as a third-line proper winger.
“There’s legends after which there’s somebody who does extra, higher, tries to enhance each time,” mentioned Eduards Tralmaks, Kladno’s main objective scorer from a season in the past. “You’d assume at this level in life he has nothing to show however each time I speak to him he says, ‘That’s not true. I’ll get higher.’”
That is Jagr’s thirty seventh season {of professional} hockey and he not too long ago shared it will likely be his final. He got here to that call sooner or later throughout the summer time. His remaining NHL full season was in 2016-17 with the Florida Panthers. James Reimer, Florida’s goalie that season, remembers the boyish enthusiasm Jagr nonetheless had then at 45.
“He would at all times idiot round after observe,” Reimer mentioned. “He wished to remain on the ice additional and dink round like a child. He simply can’t get sufficient ice. So many occasions after observe we might be doing breakaways or practising completely different pictures and he would say, ‘Hey, Reims, I’m going to point out you this transfer that labored within the ’90s. This was a assured objective.’ He’d come and do it and I’d cease it and he’d say, ‘Oh, effectively, the sport has modified.’”
The following 12 months he performed 22 video games for the Calgary Flames however was then loaned to Kladno. He didn’t get the total NHL farewell tour expertise, partly, as a result of he wasn’t able to stop. So he saved going, lifting his Czech group again into the highest division of the Extraliga, the place they’ve been since 2021.
Final season wasn’t his finest for Kladno. He performed solely 15 regular-season video games and had zero targets and 4 assists. He took a multi-week break throughout the season to go again to Pittsburgh and rejoice his quantity retirement with the Penguins. He was chubby by his requirements at round 270 kilos. Jagr appeared like he is perhaps executed.
However within the qualification spherical to keep away from relegation, Jagr broke Gordie Howe’s document and have become the oldest participant to ever take common shifts in knowledgeable recreation. He additionally grew to become the oldest participant ever to attain knowledgeable objective. That impressed him to wish to end with a stronger season than what he put collectively in 2023-24.
“Lots of people, it’s not like they’re executed as a result of they don’t like hockey anymore,” Tralmaks mentioned. “They simply wish to dwell a standard life. For him, regular life is that this.”
Jaromir Jagr had his quantity retired by the Penguins in February. (Jeanine Leech / Icon Sportswire through Getty Pictures)
That’s a part of how Jagr satisfied Tralmaks to re-sign with Kladno. After a 21-goal season, the 27-year-old Latvian had choices when deciding the place to signal. Jagr FaceTimed him (Jagr’s most popular technique of communication) and instructed him he was going to make the group aggressive. He mentioned he, personally, can be again in significantly better form. Jagr additionally instructed him that this was going to be his remaining season. When he heard that, Tralmaks knew he couldn’t think about enjoying this season wherever else.
“We’ve sort of constructed our relationship to the place it feels so pure however then if you get house and also you’re consuming espresso you’re like, ‘How the hell am I pals with this man? How am I enjoying for this group?’” Tralmaks mentioned. “It’s one thing that I might say is sort of a dream that I by no means actually dreamt of.”
How else do you describe enjoying with a man who had already gained two Stanley Cups and an Artwork Ross Trophy earlier than you had been born? The following oldest participant on Kladno’s roster is 15 years youthful than Jagr. Kladno’s youngest participant was born in 2004, by which level Jagr had already performed 14 NHL seasons. 9 gamers on the roster are lower than half his age. And since he’s not only a participant but in addition operating the whole group, potential free brokers are getting pitched by the legend himself.
“My agent mentioned, ‘Hey Jagr needs you,’” Tralmaks mentioned. “He didn’t say, ‘Kladno needs you.’ He mentioned, ‘Jagr needs you.’
“I’m like, ‘Jagr needs me? I believed he was a participant.’ However to be trustworthy, he’s all the things right here. He’s head of all the things. The whole lot goes via him.”
Even after ending up on FaceTime with Jagr strolling via their questions, newcomers to Kladno are understandably a bit overwhelmed by his presence. Enjoying together with your proprietor is exclusive sufficient, however when it’s Jagr, how do you not get a bit starstruck?
“You undoubtedly wish to get on his good aspect,” mentioned Griffin Mendel, who signed with Kladno this summer time. “I wish to get some stuff signed for pals and stuff however I don’t wish to be tremendous annoying.”
“There’s this aura round him,” Tralmaks added. “If there was a hockey Jesus, this man is as shut because it will get. ”
What everybody shortly realizes is that Jagr by some means does have a approach of mixing in with the blokes. Though he owns the group, he performs on the third line. He’s on the second power-play unit. He’s fast to chirp teammates and takes it simply as simply.
“He doesn’t assume he’s higher than anybody,” Kladno heart Mitch Hults mentioned. “He treats everybody the identical and that’s cool to see. It’s simple for somebody like that to stroll in and assume, ‘I’m too cool for this.’ However he actually jokes round with everybody.”
When Jagr is on the ice, you may’t take your eyes off him. There are bits and items of the previous Jagr in that Kladno sweater. He skates slower, however his stride is identical. Whereas bursts of velocity are few and much between, his good hockey thoughts makes up for what his physique can not do. He protects the puck in addition to he ever did and might nonetheless take it away when he needs. His passes have the precision of a person who has put tens of 1000’s of hours into this recreation. He’ll crash the online with depth. And when the puck is on his stick, there’s nonetheless a sense one thing magical might occur. As a result of in so some ways, what he’s doing, enjoying skilled hockey at this age, seems like magic.
Jagr’s day by day habits have turn into a legend of their very own. He thinks exterior of the field along with his exercise routines and pregame warmups. As one teammate described it, “There’s train science after which there’s Jagr science.” He sprints in full gear with a resistance band round his waist. He does fast ft with skates and ankle weights on. When he bench presses, he holds the barbell like he holds a hockey stick. Each exercise is strictly about hockey, and he posts a whole lot of them on his Instagram.
“This is sort of a science fiction film,” Tralmaks mentioned. “This needs to be in some documented historical past. They should examine this man. They want some medical doctors or psychologists to come back in and examine this man, as a result of he’s an alien. He’s not a f—— human being.”
“He doesn’t care what individuals assume,” Hults added. “He simply goes and does himself. I really feel like everybody must be like that and never fear concerning the exterior world.”
Jagr instructed his teammates he wished to play in each exhibition recreation, however he solely ended up enjoying in a single as a result of he tore his hamstring. Docs instructed Jagr a youthful participant would miss 4 weeks with the damage, however a 52-year-old would in all probability want six weeks of relaxation with out skating.
“You assume he took these 4 to 6 weeks?” Tralmaks mentioned. “Three days later he was on the ice skating by himself, capturing pucks. In two or three weeks he was already on the ice with us. He’s not taking that recommendation. If one thing hurts he says, ‘No, it doesn’t damage, it’s in your head.’”
Jagr has missed just one recreation this season for Kladno, and he’s scored one objective and two assists. Kladno is in sixth place within the league standings. On this evening towards Ocelari Trinec, a coach massages Jagr’s legs in between shifts to maintain him free and ensure that hamstring doesn’t cramp up. Jagr remains to be barking encouragement from the bench, arguing with refs and chirping opponents.
“He’s residing and respiration it,” Kladno defenseman Phil Pietroniro mentioned. “It’s his DNA.”
Even with the late penalty, Kladno manages to win the sport 3-2, setting off a raucous celebration within the crowd. Gamers come off the ice and stroll all the way down to the locker room, which sits beneath ice degree, singing and chanting in celebration. Jagr is perhaps the loudest of the bunch, as he gathers the group and employees for the postgame picture and video. He doesn’t have time for an interview on this evening with so many pals and sponsors on the recreation vying for his consideration.
As a result of that is the home that Jagr constructed. The rink acquired a serious renovation in 2022 that included a brand new roof, doorways, home windows, VIP sections, insulation, air-con and ticket workplaces. He modified the ice floor to make it as small as the foundations would enable as a result of it will cater to his enjoying fashion. The fan store inside the world is small however serves as a shrine to Jagr. Jagr’s face is printed on pucks, espresso mugs, T-shirts and scarves for followers to purchase. His jersey, as you’d count on, is a well-liked one among the many locals who crowd the rink on recreation nights. There’s as a lot merchandise with Jagr’s face on it as there may be Kladno’s emblem.
A lot of Kladno’s funding is due to Jagr, too. His capacity to satisfy face-to-face with sponsors to win them over is an enormous cause Kladno will get the assist it does. This city doesn’t have the foremost corporations that fund greater groups like Ocelari Trinec or Sparta Praha. However Jagr is a serious promoting level for sponsors.
That leaves a reliable query about what occurs when Jagr is completed enjoying. The Penguins have expressed curiosity in hiring him in some capability. But when he did that, Jagr may need to promote the group in Kladno. With out his on-the-ground presence, that sponsorship cash gained’t be assured. Neither will the crowds he’s drawn. Even this recreation towards Ocelari Trinec wasn’t a sellout on a weekday. Jagr’s father owned the group earlier than him, and he feels a accountability to the group and town.
“I’m not absolutely satisfied he would promote the group,” Tralmaks mentioned. “He doesn’t have kids, however that is the closest factor to his baby. That is his group. He takes care of it. That is his legacy, too. With out Jagr, I don’t know if this group would exist.”
Kladno is already significantly better off than when Jagr arrived. And there are different former NHLers, Tomas Plekanec and Jakub Voracek, who’re from Kladno and will doubtlessly step in if Jagr does resolve to work in North America.
Proper now, although, Kladno gamers aren’t desirous about any of that. They’re soaking in each second they’ve with Jagr. Some aren’t even positive if he’ll truly retire on the finish of the season, both. They’ll consider it once they see it.
“It’s like Brett Favre, proper?” Hults mentioned.
Actuality will sink in sooner or later, and these gamers will all get to say they had been a part of Jagr’s remaining skilled season.
“I might have by no means instructed you I might play with Jags, ever in my life,” Pietroniro mentioned. “I might have laughed at you.”
Added Mendel: “You’re within the historical past books slightly bit. It will be cool to get an help or one thing on his final objective.”
Tralmaks appears to have a particular appreciation for the second he’s residing in. On the evening of this early October recreation, Tralmaks stayed on the rink till after the janitor left to speak about Jagr for an hour and a half. He additionally loves speaking about him as a result of it forces him to mirror on how particular nowadays are, even the seemingly mundane moments.
Lately, Jagr and Tralmaks had been the final two gamers on the rink capturing the breeze, so there was no meals left. Jagr requested Tralmaks if he wished to go to McDonald’s. They walked in and the cashier was dumbfounded to see Jaromir Jagr in a McDonald’s at nearly midnight. Everybody within the restaurant was staring. For Tralmaks, it was simply one other evening along with his buddy, speaking about hockey and life.
“I might like to have an image of that evening,” Tralmaks. “That will go on my wall.”
Tralmaks will at all times have spotlight tapes and Jagr’s energetic Instagram account to recollect the hockey moments. However he is aware of it’s these little reminiscences away from the ice that can come flashing again for years when Jagr is completed.
“I simply hope he doesn’t neglect me in 5 or 10 years, so I might be like, ‘Hey Jags, how’s it going?’”
(Photograph illustration: Meech Robinson / The Athletic; picture: CTK through AP Pictures)